I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

pupmom

crazy4carrots

Van Cliburn, an internationally recognized American classical pianist, died on Wednesday at the age of 78, per the AP:

Cliburn skyrocketed to fame when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23 in 1958, six months after the Soviets' launch of Sputnik embarrassed the U.S. and propelled the world into the space age. He triumphantly returned to a New York City ticker tape parade — the first ever for a classical musician — and a Time magazine cover proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."

But the win also proved the power of the arts, bringing unity in the midst of strong rivalry. Despite the tension between the nations, Cliburn became a hero to music-loving Soviets who clamored to see him perform and Premier Nikita Khrushchev reportedly gave the go-ahead for the judges to honor a foreigner: "Is Cliburn the best? Then give him first prize."

Anonymous

Hey Blue,  I thought of you when I saw this adorabale picture

 

 

Barb

bluedahlia

Soooooooo cute!

Enjoyful

Ahhh....I loved Van Cliburn when I was studying music.  Then I met Ashkenazy and it was all over.

IllinoisLady

Blue, I loved every picture including Barb's.  Was thinking how far things have come since you "chose" Wendel to be Lilah's friend and housemate as well as your own and dh's.  Let the good times and the love keep coming in huge bundles. 

Jackie

crazy4carrots

E -- Vlad the impaler????   Hahahahaha, maybe not!  But how lucky to have actually met the great Ashkenazy.

I loved Van Cliburn too.  I knew he had been really ill; I expect the bone cancer was not primary. 

Glenn Gould died at age 50.  His recordings live on, as does his reputation.  But a worthy successor, IMO and that of many others, is Angela Hewitt, another Bach expert.  Glenn was the nephew of my father's best friend and the son of another good friend.  An eccentric to beat all eccentrics, but then that's genius for you!

CherrylH

E,

You're so fickle.

crazy4carrots

Cheryl, did you get snowed under last night?  It was warm enough here that all we got (and are still getting) is rain rain rain!

bluedahlia

My boob lady is up to her neck in snow!

Anonymous

thanks Blue - loved the joke too...pics great

CherrylH

Yes, Linda, we got quite a bit of snow. We are getting flurries now. Should continue until tomorrow. I hate winter!

IllinoisLady

Cheryl, I am about 4 hours south of you.  We have had snow most of the day but thank goodness not sticking.  Knew it would be like this.  We are just in the area that is still considered southern Illinois but by a very small margin.  Frankly, the whole week sounds rather un-inviting here with close to the same weather.  Cold enough to snow, but just warm enough that it won't stick.  It has been far worse.  Aren't getting the arctic winds which is a blessing --- but then if we were having those the snow would stick for sure. 

I like a good snow as we live out in the woods so they stay a bit picture post-card nicer but I'm weary of the strange un-predictable patterns we have been having, this yr. and a couple of the preceding as well.  I'm ready for Spring to arrive though who really knows about what to expect with that either.

Jackie

lassie11

It's a whole lot of slush here. I cleared the walkway to my front door but won't even try the driveway. Fortunately it has been a go nowhere, do nothing day with opportunity for a darned fine nap. Some days just require a nap. I hope naps make bad backs get better.

This just in from the Canadian Supreme Court - hate speech is not OK. http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/27/hate_speech_ruling_antigay_pamphlets_broke_law_supreme_court_of_canada_says.html

1Athena1

Very interesting, Lassie. Canada seems to go the way France does on this (along with other European countries).

We go the opposite way. We are First Amendment militants in this country - the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Larry Flint in the 90s proved that. I favor the right of every one to hold and express their VIEWS but I am agnostic on how far that can/should go. For example, I do not believe free speech should protect solicitation to commit acts that are harassing, let alone criminal, and I have seen too many cases in which, IMO, the authorities should have acted and did not. I believe protesting in front of abortion clinics in the way it's done is harassment and should be curtailed. These are medical establishments tending to vulnerable people. Similarly, urging others even to civil disobedience should not get blanket First Amendment protection - but it often does. Sadly.

And the Rehnquist court in the 90s sided with Larry Flint, whose magazine Hustler had an ad that depicted the Rev. Jerry Falwell as saying that his "first time" had been with his mother in an outhouse. The First Amendment protected the ad, the court ruled, because it was clearly not intended to pass for truth - it was intended as satire, however tasteless, and satire and mockery had been part and parcel of our discourse since the early days of the republic. (Falwell and Flint later developed a friendship which was to last until Falwell's death.) This is one of the most sophisticated pieces of jurisprudence I have ever encountered - and it is a uniquely American way of reconciling the seemingly irreconcilable (a sometimes explosive combination which does not always meet with success).

If the KKK or the American Nazi party want to stage a march, so be it - our democracy is great enough to accommodate that, and it makes me proud. It's the same greatness that compelled our military to give Osama Bin Laden a Muslim burial after what he did to us. When we treat the most despicable with humanity, we show our mettle - and we also display the shrewd understanding that the tables could one day be turned, and it could be us begging for mercy (the fact that we don't hate is irrelevant - haters don't make proper calculations). I am surprised to hear myself saying this, but it's the sort of thing Jesus would do. It's the America that makes me proud because I know it will protect its non-hateful citizens even more - and in many ways, few countries do better than us at that (as long as it's not health care). And I care about these horrendous groups' marching rights because the MOMENT someone starts denying those groups walking rights, another group of people will start questioning your rights and mine. They can claim we hate and destroy too. They lie? Of course!!! But that doesn't stop them from saying it. I think it would be naive to pretend otherwise.  

I think in France and especially Germany, much stricter anti-hate laws make sense because of their history. This is what I mean: Germans can forbid anyone from denying the Holocaust and jail anyone who does the Hitler salute - and it in no way, IMO, interferes with democratic freedoms or civil liberties, simply because these prohibitions are specific, historic and allude to events without parallel in modern times. The US Constitution forbids the passing of laws against just one person or thing, but if we were post-war Germany I think we'd change our minds. 

Moving away from extremism and towards issues of cultural tolerance, the United States also has its special exceptions which make sense in a country that enslaved millions of its people until recently. For example, it is ok to have, say, a black history month, a black TV channel, but not a white only channel, history month, etc.... and that makes absolute sense given our history. But in Europe, a similar scenario might understandably encounter resistance. They did not have black/white segregation.

Conclusion: these are incredibly complex issues that are often interpreted differently because of how uniquely they are woven in the historical fabric of each people.

But it is a very tough, tough moral quandary.

Wednesday brain droppings.

bluedahlia

Where's suzie?

bluedahlia

bluedahlia

http://www.downvids.net/cancer-sucks-this-video-rocks--363126.html

LOVE LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

crazy4carrots

Athena:  Interesting perspective (I like that word better than "droppings"!!).

You're correct, in that each country's laws -- and interpretation of those laws -- depends a great deal on their history.

However, I often think that those who shout "freedom" so loudly and so often do tend to forget that with freedom comes responsibility.  That responsibility co-incides with what we know as the golden rule.  I'm very glad that the Cdn Supreme Court has recognized and reaffirmed that responsibility.  Willful and destructive hate activities and promulgation have no place in a civilized society.  JMHO, of course.

1Athena1

I agree Lindasa, and I think our wholehearted embrace of the First Amendment obscures the imperatives you mention. Americans don't seem to understand that rights entail responsibilities - our entitlement culture (thank you, Clinton - ok, I'll shut up) doesn't understand that. So if you want to espouse extremist views, that's fine - but you should also have to be careful not to tread on the rights of others.

I am shocked at how law enforcement did nothing about those hateful videos that were cited at the time of the Benghazi tragedy, and how they fail to act when extremists all over the country call for war on this or that. 

I speak as an atheist here: we are not born with rights (a religious person might believe we are, because rights are divinely ordained). We are given them by the society and country we are lucky or unlucky enough to be born to. The more rights, generally, the better. But unless we realize that those rights are privileges that can be taken away from us, we won't understand that the flip side of any right is a responsibility. You, extremist person, have a right to your views. I will die protecting that. But you do NOT have the right to preach murder and mayhem. At that point, I'll take you to court!

I am a history buff. I know next to nothing about Canada, I'm afraid (I just you folks are like the US, but civilized, lol!) but I understand the US's obsession with the First Amendment. I also think it has gotten way out of hand. In addition to the rights of minorities, we also need to start respecting the right to privacy, which, to me, is a human right.

More "perspectives." 

Apologies. Spell check has deserted me.

IllinoisLady

I too  found my head shaking up and down reading your piece Athena.  I think it is ( like lindasa says ) sometimes very easy to forget collective and personal responsibility about many things that are Golden Rule in nature.  Our whole life leads up to learning and hopefully embracing responsibility and it should be just as high for those things we like as well as dislike.  If you are responsible, then you should be so about it all.

Blue.....loved the little dog.  Looks much like my daughter's  Papillion --- Georgie St. George.  Daughter says he is a snob and he is sort of......will not play with the other dogs as he never learned how to.  Was potentially sold to a person but when the breeder saw how much Georgie loved my daughter ( she was the pet stylish-personal groomer ) for this breeder, she gave Georgie to my daughter who had never had a dog before,  We get a big kick out of Georgie here.

See you all later.

Jackie

1Athena1

Anyone diagnosed with cancer should learn to have a healthy disrespect for statistics. Statistics are maths. It's the science which still eludes us.
Dx 3/2009, IDC, 3cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, 3/8 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-

pupmom

Don't mess with Mother Love!

QuinnCat

Love the pics Athena.  Reminds me of my odd dream this morning...my cat gave birth to a mole, a huge mole.  She was scared and I felt I had to get both to a Vet but couldn't get my hands on either.  I'm sure Freud could analyze.

Blue - so glad Wendall has filled you and your husband's heart and has lived up to all expectations.

After Obama was elected, it became apparent to me that people were getting braver and braver about expressing their racism.  The internet allows this due to anonymity.   As well, some deny it is a factor in their own lives even while making despicable, or just unreasonably negative, comments about Barack and Michelle.  I would like to remind some that racism has to have the component of power in the equation.  Racism is between two classes of people.  Racism defends a privledge of position in society, protecting one's own status (ie. their power over the other), whether social or economic against those who are different and as a group lack the same level of power.  Currently, the white race rules the United States, socially and economically.  I don't accept racism of black on white.  You can call it something different, but it doesn't have anything to do with power.  Think about things like redlining loans, poll taxes, hiring, admittance to private clubs, etc. etc..  Off my petard now.

IllinoisLady

I'm on mine.  So irritateted over Justice Scalia.  Did not think too highly anyway, but he must be in someone's pocket now with trying to make waves with the voting Act.  he has  said the minorities don't need it as it furthur their entitlements. I immediately said to Dh....really.  Since when it voting an entitilement.  I think it is a right to vote.  I think the writing is on the wall -- nothing else has worked but taking the voting rights out of federal jurisdiction. 

I hope this is not allowed to stand.

Jackie

1Athena1

Pictures above are from a lioness giving birth to three perfect little ones - sadly, at a zoo, but the whole family looks good.

Sandy, hope it's going peacefully for your MIL. I'm sneaking in some late-night Giorgio Armani fall/winter 2013/14 - since he was Milan and Paris is already upon us! I liked this show. Armani, to my knowledge, designs under three lables - Armani Prive, which is his couture label and is shown in Paris, Emporio Armani, which is the more accessibly priced and sportswear-style one, and Giorgio Armani, which is my favorite and probably the best known to the world out there. Here are some looks I liked from a great collection under the latter brand. As if it wasnt already obvious, there isn't much that beats Italian tailoring:

The critics pointed to an andrgynous feel, and I agree, but the sensuality is intact. I found it Chanel-like with its black-and-white motifs.

The black berets flattered some looks better than others - the above one wasn't a good fit, IMO, but I loved the restof the look.

Armani makes it look so effortless, but you know it's not:

1Athena1

ETA: Kam, don't let me started on the voting rights act and how some are trying to chip away at its protections. The Bushes almost deserved to be stoned for the supreme court they have created. BTW, Mississippi only ratified the 13th amendment, abolishing slavery, THIS YEAR!

1Athena1

'Morning, all!

pupmom

Kam, what a dream! I seem to have the most bizarre dreams since my dx. I'm on another thread here about SEs from Aromasin. Wonder if this is an SE. Will pose that question on the thread.

Racism is alive and well in America toward the Obamas. They project their vile attitudes on the President, claiming, without any merit, that HE is the racist! When it comes to Michelle they just let loose. I almost think they hate her more than him.

Jackie, the voting act is sacrosanct! Don't touch it. Hopefully there will be 5 votes to protect our rights.

Beautiful pictures Athena, especially the last one! Can you tell I'm much more into animals than clothes? 

1Athena1

It's a tough choice for me, Yorkie, although many of my loves in life are (sadly) platonic. Never see a lion in my daily life, for example!

Part of the racism against Michelle, I think, is pure jealousy. She happens to be beautiful, accomplished and successful in her ventures.

I hope this sequester finally convinces people that some in Congress would sooner let their country go to shreds if it "shows up" the "black man." Can't wait for the 2014 elections to show some riffraff the door - especially (hopefully) Mitch McConnell. Boehner should be put out of his own misery - for his own sake as much as everyone else's.

The new enemy number one of the nihilists is Chris Christie - a republican who dares to actually govern and care about his people. (Traitor!) He was not invited to a key republican convention as punishment.